False-colour transmission electron micrograph (TEM) of AIDS virus (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), emerging from a stricken T4 lymphocyte (white

---

False-colour transmission electron micrograph (TEM) of AIDS virus (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), emerging from a stricken T4 lymphocyte (white blood cell of immune system, which AIDS destroys, rendering victim liable to several fatal secondary infections). The virus (designated HIV - Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a retrovirus, ie its genetic program is held in RNA (red central cores of spheres), translated into DNA inside the T4 cell & infiltrates the cell's own DNA; once activated the viral DNA replicates & progeny bud from the cell wall, killing the host cell. Magnification: x30,000 at 35mm, x60,000 at 6x7cm.

---

Size: 3543px × 2782px
Photo credit: © CNRI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: aids, electron, hiv, lav, lymphocyte, lymphodenopathy, micrograph, retrovirus, t4, tem, transmission, virus